Complaints thread

Rebis58

I have a vent/whine, but don't want to be a total AW so if anyone else wants to complain/vent/ask for advice let's use this thread!

Breastfeeding is getting so frustrating. DD has bitten me, hard, about 5 times. I have a little scab on one side from it. I've tried stopping feeding for a minute or so to try to discourage her, but it hasn't stopped her so far. When I cry out it scares her and she starts to cry, but that hasn't discouraged her either. My next step will be putting her down on the ground when she bites. We'll see if that works.

She also wiggles and squirms around and tries to push my arms out of the way with her feet. She sticks her finger in her mouth while feeding which obviously breaks the suction and also scratches my nipple/chest (I think these are comfort things to her, but not very comfortable to me). When I try to move her hand away from her mouth she gets frustrated and smacks my chest.

I'm almost positive my supply is fine. I can hear her swallowing and often a dribble of milk comes out of her mouth afterwards. She's growing perfectly fine and when not breastfeeding is completely happy so I don't think she's hungry after a feed. We have only done bottles a handful of times when I'm away from the house (and hasn't happened for months) so it's not like she's used to a faster flow and getting frustrated.

I'm getting so frustrated. It's still occasionally nice and calm/relaxing and a nice bonding experience (maybe one feed a day), and I love it then. I hoped to get to a year of breastfeeding but I'm starting to feel burned out! I'd rather not deal with the hassle of pumping, and I really want to avoid formula if I can, simply because of the cost and hassle of preparing bottles. Any advice from those still breast feeding?? Do I just have to tough it out?

Rebis58

Ah sorry for the novel  :-S I try not to be so long winded but it's hard for me!

Rebis58

charmingthemoon said:

We have had our share of trouble lately, too. I have found that it is worst when he is tired. But it is getting better (thank goodness!). I did find that pumping and giving a bottle at bedtime when he is tired is helpful. That way I can be sure he gets to eat, and I don't get bitten! I still nurse at bedtimes, but when he starts getting difficult I give a bottle. Then I pump before bed and use the milk for The next night. I hope this is a short lived phase for you guys!

Thanks @charmingthemoon. I've considered starting to pump more often and switch to a bottle on the feeds that she seems especially wriggly/restless.

@rgoblue I'll try going to a more quiet spot with less distractions. Hopefully that helps!

jhjocelyn

Dd is totally restless nursing too! I swear we only last 5 minutes before she's trying to play wirh my nipple and I call it done. For us it may be a supply issue, but her mouth is usually full of milk when she starts fooling around.
I think a big part is age. They are so much more aware of their surroundings, what they can do, and what reactions they can get!

growingmybun

My daughter is bottle fed and she's a mess at feedings as well. They are just at a squirmy age.

I don't have anything to complain about (for the moment).

SandFHasse

DS is bottle fed and is squirmy too. He has to feed himself.

I'm going to complain about Sesame Street because it's on and I'm annoyed. They are doing Sesame Street version of Twilight. Cookie Monster is Shortbr-Edward a yumpire. Some purple puppet is all mopy and is Belly. They are getting married, but she gave Cookie Monster an ultimatum, he has to choose her or her cookies. Idk why it annoyed me so much. What happened to old Sesame Street?

somewierd_person

@SandFHasse‌ wow that annoyed me reading about it!
As far as the frustration bfing we are there as well. He is into standing in my lap and suffocating himself on the boob to nurse. He tries to climb all over me and kicks like I'm holding him down.... He is using nursing time to practice his pincer grip on my nip. Most of the time he's gentle sometimes he cuts my face with his nails like yesterday.

peanutmuse

@SandFHasse‌ -- I saw part of that one the other day and was totally confused. I don't think it follows the Twilight storyline, but more importantly, why should Cookie Monster have to give up cookies? I was irrationally upset about it.

SandFHasse

@peanutmuse Idk if it follows the storyline, but I was irrationally upset as well. There was a wolf puppet asking Belly puppet to marry him instead because he baked her cookies. Idk I was annoyed.

Rebis58

I'm sorry so many others are going through the same frustration as me and DD with breastfeeding - but it does make me feel better to know it might just be a normal stage. Hopefully it passes soon!

That Sesame Street story line is ridiculous... do kids who watch Sesame Street even know what Twilight is??

Rebis58

babywinks said:

As far as sticking hands in the mouth, have you tried giving your LO a lovey or small stuffed animal to play with while nursing? DS has a bunny he plays with otherwise e will grab and scratch at my face. My complaint is that my kid still can't figure out sleep. He wakes - a lot - last night it was like 10 times (I lose count most nights). I know I need to sleep train but and I am starting tonight. I am dreading I mostly because it means I lose more sleep in the short term. I am hoping he figures out how to sleep on his own quickly.

STUCK IN BOX

I have tried giving her a stuffed animal. She waves it around and smacks me in the face with it haha. I guess that is better than the scratched face/chest though

ETA: Good luck on the sleep training. We had two rough nights (well, rough GETTING her to sleep - once she was asleep she slept well) and now she is an awesome sleeper. It was hard but so so so worth it! Hope you have a similar situation

blue_elle

Sorry bf'ing is not smooth right now. M has biten me 3 times now I think, but not in a couple weeks so fingers crossed. We are also in the phase of squirmy, on and off, smacking, fingers in my mouth and nose, and tweeking my nipples.

His new frustrating thing is to bite me just at random. Like a couple days ago he crawled to me, rammed his head into my stomach and bit my belly. He's not done this to anyone else. And don't even get me started on how insanely frustrated diaper changes have become. There have been a couple times I've had to take some deep breaths while cursing like a sailor in my head. Then I feel awful for being so annoyed at my baby

nolagal79

E is bottle fed and we are having many of the same frustrations with feeding - scratching, pinching, smiling at anything and not drinking. I've found that distraction works he best. Give her a toy or something to play with while feeding and she sucks it down. Not optimal, but it works!!

WTH is up with Sesame Street? Ugh...

Rebis58

blue_elle said:

Sorry bf'ing is not smooth right now. M has biten me 3 times now I think, but not in a couple weeks so fingers crossed. We are also in the phase of squirmy, on and off, smacking, fingers in my mouth and nose, and tweeking my nipples. His new frustrating thing is to bite me just at random. Like a couple days ago he crawled to me, rammed his head into my stomach and bit my belly. He's not done this to anyone else. And don't even get me started on how insanely frustrated diaper changes have become. There have been a couple times I've had to take some deep breaths while cursing like a sailor in my head. Then I feel awful for being so annoyed at my baby

Yes! This too. So frustrating! I find if I give her a toy she usually will lie still for me, otherwise she's rolling all over the place.

This stage is by far the funnest we've had with her so far, but now that she's getting so willful it also brings a lot of new frustrations.

teacher0708

I wish DD would actually use a sippy cup. I tried her with a real cup and she clamped her mouth tight. Darn it! It was way easier with DS.

She also needs to stop with the nap strike. 

Love to see her grow and gain independence but somedays it is super frustrating. I have to remind myself it is a stage and I will survive it  

km_md

Sorry to you mamas who are struggling with breastfeeding.

My complaint is that after being good for a while we just had to increase DDs medications for her reflux again. I am so frustrated that it just won't go away no matter what we do.

blue_elle

@km_md‌ so sorry you guys are still struggling with the reflux. Poor baby

precious72381

So many things said already! Abby has better things to do then nurse! Like pull the dog's fur or watch the cats' tails. I still use a nipple shield but I'm starting to feel her bite through it.

She wakes up about 2 hours after going to bed. Wide awake like it was a nap (which is why we are up now and I'm writing this). I tried doing sleep training but either I suck at it or she is genuinely too hungry to sleep. I spent about 2-3 weeks trying. It worked well the first 2-3 nights but after that, it went from 10 to 30 to almost 60 minutes of crying before I gave in and nursed her (I went in about every 8 mins to rub her back). I don't want to just let her cry. But it was turning into crying for almost an hour then she was so awake and wiled up, it took almost an hour of nursing to get her back asleep. I gave up and just nurse her when she wakes up hungry and we are both usually back to sleep within 30 minutes except nights like this- she is wide awake! I just want to cry-I'm so tired and need to work in the morning!

I tried cutting back her reflux meds and it went horrible. I don't know how long she will need them. I'll talk to her doc next appointment but I was hoping soon but she has different plans, I guess.

I'm also annoyed reading the seseme street storyline. So stupid and inappropriate!!

Went shopping at Costco today and they have lots of fun toys. I wanted to get a few things to save for her birthday but now I feel guilty just putting them away when she could be having fun with the stuff now. Think I'll just have to wait to shop for her birthday right before it. Besides I can probably give it to her now then wrap it up and give it to her again for her birthday! Stupid Costco and their amazing stuff!

km_md

Thank you @blue_elle

Rebis58

precious72381 said:

So many things said already! Abby has better things to do then nurse! Like pull the dog's fur or watch the cats' tails. I still use a nipple shield but I'm starting to feel her bite through it. She wakes up about 2 hours after going to bed. Wide awake like it was a nap (which is why we are up now and I'm writing this). I tried doing sleep training but either I suck at it or she is genuinely too hungry to sleep. I spent about 2-3 weeks trying. It worked well the first 2-3 nights but after that, it went from 10 to 30 to almost 60 minutes of crying before I gave in and nursed her (I went in about every 8 mins to rub her back). I don't want to just let her cry. But it was turning into crying for almost an hour then she was so awake and wiled up, it took almost an hour of nursing to get her back asleep. I gave up and just nurse her when she wakes up hungry and we are both usually back to sleep within 30 minutes except nights like this- she is wide awake! I just want to cry-I'm so tired and need to work in the morning! I tried cutting back her reflux meds and it went horrible. I don't know how long she will need them. I'll talk to her doc next appointment but I was hoping soon but she has different plans, I guess. I'm also annoyed reading the seseme street storyline. So stupid and inappropriate!! Went shopping at Costco today and they have lots of fun toys. I wanted to get a few things to save for her birthday but now I feel guilty just putting them away when she could be having fun with the stuff now. Think I'll just have to wait to shop for her birthday right before it. Besides I can probably give it to her now then wrap it up and give it to her again for her birthday! Stupid Costco and their amazing stuff!

Sorry you're struggling with reflux and sleep - that really sucks. I find all of the little frustrations are so so much harder to deal with when you're tired, it just compounds everything. Hope it gets better soon!

And YES to the bolded. Every time I go to Target/Walmart/the mall, I see so many things I want to buy for DD for Christmas or her birthday, but then I want to give it to her RIGHTNOW so I just don't buy it, haha